Paint can pour spout with brush support and attachment

ABSTRACT

A pour spout and brush holder selectively attachable on paint containers having either externally rolled or internally grooved lips. A planar member in the form of a segment of a circle outlined by an arcuate edge and a straight, chord-like edge is provided with an arcuate flange arranged between a codirectionally extending arcuate rim and an arcuate projection. The rim cooperates with the flange to engage an externally rolled lip, while the projection cooperates with the flange to engage an internally grooved lip. A brush holding clip is selectively mountable on walls extending from and forming part of an opening in the planar member. These walls form a portion of a spout associated with the planar member opening.

I Unlted States Patent 1191 [1 1 3,844,457 Smart 1 Oct. 29, 1974 [54] PAINT CAN POUR SPOUT WITH BRUSH 3,197,089 7/1965 Michael 222/570 X SUPPORT N ATTACHMENT 3,400,867 9/1968 Giannone 222/570 [76] Inventor: Orpha J. Smart, 4876 NE. Primary Examiner stanley H. Touberg Stephens St., Roseburg, Oreg. As 1 N 97470 szstant Exammer orman L. Stack, Jr.

Attorney, Agent, or F1rmClarence A. OBrlen; [22] Filed: Apr. 24, 1973 Harvey B. Jacobson [21] App]. No.: 354,096

1 [57] ABSTRACT .52 us. (:1. 222 570 A p Spout and brush holder selectively attachable 51 Int. Cl B65d 25/42 on paint containers having either externally rolled or [58] Field of Search 222/570; 248/110; 211/65; internally grooved "1 A P a member in the form 220 90 of a segment of acircle outlmed by an arcuate edge and a straight, chord-like edge is provided with an ar- [56] References Cited cuate flange arranged between a co-directionally ex- UNITED STATES PATENTS tending arcuate rim and an arcuate projection. The 2 4 rim cooperates with the flange to engage an externally 2,3122; 32 333 rolled lip, while the projection cooperates with the 2:570:426 10/1951 Cassidy..... IIIIIIII.I 222/570 flange to .engage an.memany grooved A b'ush 1 2,625,299 1/1953 Uhlig 248/110 x l P selcuvely mountable 9" W l extend 2 2,632,153; 5/1953 Nelson 248/110 x mg from and foflmng P of an Openmg m the Planar 2,722,347 11/1955 Henke 222/570 member. These walls form a portion of a spout associ- 2,726,011 12/1955 Young 248/110 X ated with the planar member opening. 2,786,614 3/1957 0111516 220/90 x 2,941,692 6/1960 Kappel 220/90 5 Chums, Drawlllg Flgures PAINT CAN POUR SPOUT WITH BRUSH SUPPORT AND ATTACHMENT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to a pour spout for fluid containers, and particularly to a pour spout and brush holder for paint cans, pails, and other containers.

an externally rolled lip of greater diameter than that of 2 the can. Conventional spouts must be constructed and dimensioned to fit the lip of one container or the other.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple pouring device which can be easily attached to any one of a paint can, paint pail, or other similar liquid container for the purpose of transferring the liquid from one container to another without any waste of liquid through spillage and the like.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a pour spout readily attachable to and removable from fluid containers provided either with an internally grooved lip or an externally rolled lip.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a pour spourt readily attachable to and removable from a fluid container without leaving any of the fluid in an internal groove, on an external lip, or on the outer surface of the container.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a pour spout having a separate brush holding clip selectively mountable on a spout portion of the device.

These and other objects are achieved according to the present invention by providing a pour spout which has: a member provided with an opening, and lip engaging elements provided on the member for permitting attachment of the latter to internally grooved and externally rolled lips of fluid containers.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the attaching elements include a flange, a

rim arranged for cooperating with the flange to engage an externally rolled lip, and a projection also arranged for cooperating with the flange to engage an internally grooved lip. Advantageously, the flange, rim, and projection have co-directional, arcuate configurations, and are arranged as concentric partial rings, with the flange arranged between the rim and projection.

The member to which the flange, rim, and projection are attached preferably has an arcuate edge conforming substantially to the rim, and a straight edge arranged extending across the arcuate edge in a manner of a chord to form a segment of a circle. This outline of the member permits a portion of an opening in an associated fluid container to be uncovered for access thereto by a paint brush, and the like.

A pair of spaced, parallel walls are advantageously provided on the member. These walls are arranged extending perpendicularly from the straight edge and sloping away from the member in a direction opposed to the rim, flange, and projection. They also extend past and partially define the opening in the member. A lip portion of the member is connected to the walls for forming therewith a spout portion.

A plurality of spikes may be arranged on the walls so as to extend perpendicularly away from the member and engage and retain a paint brush, and the like. Alternatively to using the spikes, the pour spout according to the present invention is provided with a brush holder having a pair of spaced legs arranged for selectively embracing the spout portion walls and being retained on same. This brush holder has a clip portion which grips and retains the handle of a brush, and the like.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view showing a pour spout and brush holder according to the present invention together with suitable containers and a paint brush.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken generally along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a pour spout and brush holder according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken generally along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A pour spout and brush holder 10 according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 1 as mounted on either a paint can 12 (full lines) or a paint bucket 14 (broken lines). A brush holder 16 is arranged on the device, and a paint brush 18 is shown retained by holder 16 so that the bristles of brush 18 extend into the container on which the spout is arranged.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings, a spout according to the present invention is formed from a planar member 20 provided with an opening 22. A flange 24 is provided on member 20, and is arranged between and cooperates with a rim 26 for engaging an externally rolled lip 28, and a projection 30 for engaging an internally grooved lip 32. Lip 28 forms part of a paint can 12, and the like, while lip 32 may be on a paint bucket 14. Flange 24, rim 26, and projection 30 are shown as having co-directional, arcuate configurations, and are arranged as partial rings. The flange 24 and rim 26 are concentric, while projection 30 is of a smaller diameter.

A plurality of beads 34, five being shown in the drawings, arranged extending toward flange 24, are provided on rim 26. Further, a plurality of spikes 36 are arranged extending perpendicularly to member 20 for engaging and restraining a brush 18. A rib 38 may be provided along the undersurface of member 20 as for reinforcing member 20 in a conventional manner.

Member 20 has an outline formed by an arcuate edge 40, conformed substantially to rim 26, and a straight edge 42 arranged extending across arcuate edge 40 in the manner of a chord to form a segment of a circle. This outline of member 20 permits a portion of an opening 44 in an associated fluid container to be uncovered and accessible to a brush 18, and the like.

7 A pair of spaced, parallel walls 46 and 48 are provided on member 20, and are arranged extending perpendicularly from straight edge 42 and sloping away from member 20 in a direction opposed to rim 26, flange 24, and projection 30. These walls 46 and 48 extend past and partially define opening 22 in member 20, and are connected to, or more accurately merge into, a lip portion 50 to form a spout portion therewith.

Referring now to FIG. 4 in conjunction with FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings, brush holder 16 has a pair of spaced legs 52 and 54 arranged for selectively embracing walls 46 and 48 and being retained on same. Clip portions 56 and 57 extend from a body 58 of holder 16 in a direction opposed to that of legs 52 and 54. Protuberances 60 on the inner surfaces of legs 52 and 54 cooperate with recesses 62 forrned in walls 46 and 48 to snap holder 16 in position on the walls. In this manner, holder 16 may be selectively employed as desired.

As can be readily understood from the above description and from the drawings, a pour spout according to the present invention can 'be adapted to both, for example, gallon size paint cans with a, for example, 6 inch diameter, internally grooved lip and all common sizes of paint pails or buckets with externally rolled lips. The pour spout can quickly be fastened or unfastened with a snap-on action either internally on containers with a grooved lip or externally on containers with a rolled lip as desired. To place the pour spout on the various sized containers having externally rolled lips, it is pressed on the respective sides of the container in the proper direction, if necessary, to match the contour of the outer sealing lip of the pour spout, which may be designed for an average gallon size, eight inch outside diameter pail.

Since a pour spout and brush holder according to the present invention is made in two pieces, brush holder 16 can be attached or detached by snapping it to walls 46 and 48 of member 20 as desired. With holder 16 on member 20, a brush 18 can be held firmly in place over a container, and the necessary painting items can thus be carried as one unit. With holder 16 removed from member 20, and the paint container ready for use, brush 18 can be positioned on spikes 36 with the bristles of brush l8 hanging over the uncovered opening 44 of the container. Further, brush 18 can easily be wiped on the inside edge of member 20, along rib 38, while being used for painting, and the like.

The pour spout and brush holder 10 according to the present invention may be constructed from suitable, known synthetic materials such as low density polyethylene resin, and the like. These materials are suitable for either injection molding or press-forming, and are sufficiently flexible and resilient to match tolerances and fit standard containers. Further, this construction permits adaptation of the pour spout to various sizes of, for example, paint pails, from two quarts to eight quarts. In addition, such construction provides a pour spout which is essentially chemically resistant to and is not materially affected by paints, enamels, lacquers, sealers, thinners, glues, alcohols, and other conventional commercial and industrial cleaners, solvents, and solutions, other than strong acids and bases.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A pour spout for fluid containers, comprising, in combination:

a. a member provided with an opening; and

b. means provided on the member for permitting attachment of the member to internally grooved and externally rolled lips of fluid containers, the attachment permitting means including a flange, a rim arranged for cooperating with the flange to selectively engage an externally rolled lip of a container, and a projection to selectively engage an internally grooved lip of a container different from the container having the externally rolled lip, the flange, rim, and projection having co-directional, arcuate configurations, and being arranged as partial rings, with the flange arranged between the rim and projection.

2. A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the member is planar, has an arcuate edge conforming substantially to the rim, and a straight edge arranged extending across the arcuate edge in the manner of a chord to form a segment of a circle permitting a portion of an opening in an associated fluid container to be uncovered.

3. A structure as defined in claim 2, wherein walls are provided on the member, and are arranged extending perpendicularly from the straight edge and sloping away from the member in a direction opposed to the rim, flange, and projection, the walls extending past and partially defining the opening, and the member further including a lip portion connected to the walls for forming a spout portion therewith.

4. A structure as defined in claim 3, wherein a plurality of beads arranged extending toward the flange are provided on the rim, and a plurality of spikes arranged extending perpendicularly to the member are provided on the walls for engaging and restraining a brush.

5. A pour spout for fluid containers, comprising, in combination:

a. a member provided with an opening; and

b. means provided on the member for permitting attachment of the member to internally grooved and externally rolled lips of fluid containers, the attachment permitting means including a flange, a rim arranged for cooperating with the flange to engage an externally rolled lip, and a projection also arranged for cooperating with the flange to engage an internally grooved lip, the flange, rim, and projection having co-directional, arcuate configurations, and being arranged as concentric partial rings, with the flange arranged between the rim and projection, the member being planar, having an arcuate edge conforming substantially to the rim, and a straight edge arranged extending across the arcuate edge in the manner of a chord to form a segment of a circle permitting a portion of an opening in an associated fluid container to be uncovered, walls being provided on the member, and being arranged extending perpendicularly from the straight edge and therewith, the pour spout further including a brush holder having a pair of spaced legs arranged for selectively embracing the walls and being retained on same. 

1. A pour spout for fluid containers, comprising, in combination: a. a member provided with an opening; and b. means provided on the member for permitting attachment of the member to internally grooved and externally rolled lips of fluid containers, the attachment permitting means including a flange, a rim arranged for cooperating with the flange to selectively engage an externally rolled lip of a container, and a projection to selectively engage an internally grooved lip of a container different from the container having the externally rolled lip, the flange, rim, and projection having codirectional, arcuate configurations, and being arranged as partial rings, with the flange arranged between the rim and projection.
 2. A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the member is planar, has an arcuate edge conforming substantially to the rim, and a straight edge arranged extending across the arcuate edge in the manner of a chord to form a segment of a circle permitting a portion of an opening in an associated fluid container to be uncovered.
 3. A structure as defined in claim 2, wherein walls are provided on the member, and are arranged extending perpendicularly from the straight edge and sloping away from the member in a direction opposed to the rim, flange, and projection, the walls extending past and partially defining the opening, and the member further including a lip portion connected to the walls for forming a spout portion therewith.
 4. A structure as defined in claim 3, wherein a plurality of beads arranged extending toward the flange are provided on the rim, and a plurality of spikes arranged extending perpendicularly to the member are provided on the walls for engaging and restraining a brush.
 5. A pour spout for fluid containers, comprising, in combination: a. a member provided with an opening; and b. means provided on the member for permitting attachment of the member to internally grooved and externally rolled lips of fluid containers, the attachment permitting means including a flange, a rim arranged for cooperating with the flange to engage an externally rolled lip, and a projection also arranged for cooperating with the flange to engage an internally grooved lip, the flange, rim, and projection having co-directional, arcuate configurations, and being arranged as concentric partial rings, with the flange arranged between the rim and projection, the member being planar, having an arcuate edge conforming substantially to the rim, and a straight edge arranged extending across the arcuate edge in the manner of a chord to form a segment of a circle permitting a portion of an opening in an associated fluid container to be uncovered, walls being provided on the member, and being arranged extending perpendicularly from the straight edge and sloping away from the member in a direction opposed to the rim, flange, and projection, the walls extending past and partially defining the opening, and the member further including a lip portion connected to the walls for forming a spout portion therewith, the pour spout further including a brush holder having a pair of spaced legs arranged for selectively embracing the walls and being retained on same. 